The trial of former Artsakh military and political leaders concluded at Baku’s Military Court today.

Only Azerbaijani state and government-controlled media outlets are present at the trial. It is not possible to verify the statements attributed to the Armenians on trial from other sources.

Azerbaijani State News Agency (AZERTAC) writes that the trial has ended, and the Azerbaijani state prosecutors, in their concluding remarks, said the evidence presented during the trial has established the guilt of the defendants in the current case for numerous crimes committed since 1988."

It was noted that the charges brought during the trial will be reviewed. The Armenian prisoners are accused of “direct or indirect participation in crimes committed by the Armenian state and the criminal organization it created from 1988 to September 20, 2023.”

The charges brought against the former Artsakh military and political officials include terrorism, genocide, slavery, plunder, and a variety of war crimes.

There are fifteen defendants in this criminal case: former Artsakh Republic Presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, and Bako Sahakyan; former Speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan; former Advisor to the Artsakh President and former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan; former Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan; former Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army Davit Manukyan; and eight other detainees -  Garik Martirosyan, Melikset Pashayan, Davit Alaverdyan, Gurgen Stepanyan, Levon Balayan, Madat Babayan, Vasily Beglaryan, Erik Ghazaryan.

It was noted that they allegedly united in a “criminal organization based on the ideas of national-ethnic hatred and enmity towards the Azerbaijani people, which they called “Union”.

The prosecutors also accused Armenia of being an aggressor and of unleashing a war against Azerbaijan. It was noted that in 1988-1994, “twelve cities, eighteen towns and 895 villages of Azerbaijan were occupied - a total of 925 settlements”.

It was emphasized that although the Armenian prisoners who appeared in the Baku court are presented as heroes in Armenia, they are “individuals who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity from the point of view of international law”.

The next court hearing is scheduled for November 6.

The trial of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan is being held in separate proceedings.

Top photo: Azerbaijani State News Agency (AZERTAC)